Pro-Maratha quota activist Jarange ends fast after CM Shinde meets him in Jalna

Mr. Shinde observed that while the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis-led had passed a law on the Maratha quota and the same had been confirmed by the Bombay High Court, the Supreme Court had unfortunately scrapped it.

Pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil finally called off his indefinite strike on Thursday after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde personally met the activist at his protest site in Jalna district.

Mr. Jarange Patil, who has been fasting since August 29 at Jalna’s Antarwali Sarati village, had earlier given the Shinde government a month’s time to fulfil all demands, prominent among which include giving the Kunbli OBC community caste certificates to all Marathas, so that they may avail of benefits presently enjoyed by the OBCs.

The activist, who had given up drinking water recently, had also stated earlier that he would withdraw his fast only if Mr. Shinde personally called on him with written assurances.

Mr. Shinde, accompanied by a bevvy of Ministers including Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Uday Samant and Union Minister Raosaheb Danve, persuaded Jarange Patil to end his hunger strike.

The activist formally ended his fast by drinking a glass of juice offered him by Mr. Shinde.

“All we seek is a quota for our community members from this government, who have been fighting for it long and hard. We are even willing to give this government an additional ten days more if so necessary,” he said.

After recent tensions between the protestors and the ruling government over the police lathi-charge , rapprochement was in the air with Mr. Jarange Patil praising CM Shinde’s “bold decision” to personally call upon him and remarking that the Maratha community looked up to the CM with “great hope” to grant them an enduring quota.